An entire city block of Quincy will get a facelift over the next couple of years.

The reason is because of some pollution problems.

Years ago a plant that used coal to make gas sat between eighth and ninth streets just south of Jersey Street.

When the plant shut down in 1925, there were no environmental rules to go by, so the plant and tanks that are buried underground sat there.

Now that there are strict environmental rules in place, Ameren along with the Illinois EPA are working together to get that site cleaned up.

It's important to note, the site is not dangerous because all of the remnants left behind haven't migrated off the site.

Work on tearing down an existing warehouse should begin in January, and then the excavation and clearing of what's buried will begin by the middle of next year.

Ameren assures us it will be a safe cleanup.

"The structure itself will capture any material coming off the site. It'll be filtered through carbon. Probably the biggest impact will be like a typical construction site. Trucks coming and going, parking will be shut down alont the streets," says Don Richardson with Ameren.

Sidewalks will also be torn up.

The whole project is slated to be finished by the end of 2011.

Ameren says it will keep the media updated as well as have an updated plan in the Quincy Public Library as the project moves along.